DIY & Crafts

30 Clever Ideas for DIY Light Fixtures

by craftmin | January 26, 2018

One of the simplest ways to give your home a bright makeover is to install new lighting. However, it isn’t simple as it may sound. Lamps and light fixtures can be quite pricey if you’re planning on buying. If you’re concerned about the expenses you’d go through, a brilliant way to emphasize your interior without spending a lot is to make your own DIY Light Fixtures!

30 Clever Ideas for DIY Light Fixtures

The brilliant play of light and shadow can create amazing elegance, juxtaposition, and depth. It’s an important factor that most neglect. But when it comes to planning the interior design, lighting fixtures are just as paramount as any furniture piece, being able to make the interior look unappealing and cheap or completely make it look like a million dollars.

So are you ready to repurpose and upcycle used household items into new chandeliers, lamps, and pendants? Check out the inspirations for DIY Light Fixtures below, and maybe you might want to give one or two a try!

1. String Light

Image Courtesy of Look What I Made

This idea for DIY light fixtures looks intimidating. It just looks that way, but it’s actually simple. Elevate the ambiance in any space of your house with this one-of-a-kind pendant design.

2. Concrete Pendant Light Fixtures

Image Courtesy of Ben Uyeda via BRIT+CO

Do you know what makes these DIY light fixtures amazing? They are made from concrete and shaped with plastic bottles. Not only that concrete is modern, it’s also affordable. You can use a single $6 bag of concrete mix to produce 15 light fixtures.

3. Caged Basket Chandelier

Image Courtesy of Mandi via Vintage Revivals

Have you ever dreamt of using baskets in some other way? In a creative way? Well, this crazy idea for DIY light fixtures just made it real! Two hanging flower baskets were repurposed into this gorgeous chandelier that figuratively and literally brightens up a room.

7. Pantry Light

Image Courtesy of The Life of CK and Nate

Amazing! This recipe light fixture carries a charm that left us simply mesmerized. If you’re looking for something to add to your dining area or kitchen nook, this brilliant idea for DIY light fixtures fits perfectly. Not to mention you’ll enjoy kneading the dough and kick it old school!

8. Bentwood Pendant

Image Courtesy of Tasha via Designer Trapped In a Lawyer’s Body

Inspired by the West Elm bentwood pendant, DIY light fixtures like this bentwood pendant capitalizes on the popularity of geometric forms and natural materials—a hallmark of mid-century design out of quilting hoops.

9. Folded Rope Dome Pendant Light

Image Courtesy of Sarah M. Dorsey via Sarah M. Dorsey Designs

Another ingenious idea for DIY light fixtures is employing yawn to dome lighting selections, and this glorious folded rope dome pendant light is one. It makes a great conversation piece and has an elaborate pattern that impressively diffuses light.

10. Capiz Chandelier Light Shade

Image Courtesy of Heather via The Heathered Nest

If you have those dreaded boob light fixtures in your house, you’d probably want to get rid of them. They’re just so unattractive and cheap. Plus, I don’t want to sound dirty but who would want a light fixture that reminds you of a huge breast attached to the ceiling?

Well, one of the cleverest ideas for DIY light fixtures to update those “boob lights” is to replace them with something very coastal, classy, and chic. And none could better fit such descriptions than a beautiful capiz chandelier light shade. However, they don’t come cheap! $545 is pretty much an unreasonable price for a capiz chandelier light shade, but a DIY one is way more affordable.

11. Pendant Light

Image Courtesy of Jennifer Rizzo

Have you ever visited a thrift store? If you do, you’d probably spot some old light fixtures sitting and waiting for someone to buy them for a cheap price. That exactly was the case for this ravishing pendant light before it had any dramatic intervention.

12. Used Fabric Round Pendant Light

Image Courtesy of Carrie via Lovely etc

Sometimes, searching for the perfect pattern or color for a light fixture can be a struggle. Finally, a solution has knocked on your door! You can use any fabric to make DIY light fixtures like this pendant light.

14. Farmhouse Light Fixture

Image Courtesy of Larissa via Prodigal Pieces

If you don’t know what to do with antique clamps, using them as sconces for some funky industrial style farmhouse lighting is one of the most ingenious ideas for DIY light fixtures. Nothing like a good repurpose to get your adrenaline going.

16. Trash Can Lights

Image Courtesy of Lesley Clavijo via Chaotically Creative

How is it that making something stunning out of cheap, ordinary object can be very satisfying? Just like making a trendy and decorative light fixture out of something you wouldn’t expect to repurpose—a trash can! Talk about artistic DIY light fixtures!

17. Geometric Lampshade

Image Courtesy of Riikka Kantinkoski via Weekday Carnival

Some of the most amazing home decors include geometric items. Do you want to know why? It’s simply because they add a spark to any style and fit both feminine and masculine spaces. And this sleek minimal geometric lampshade is a great way of giving any room in your house a contemporary flair. You can make your own cool modern lampshade by using some pipes or metal tubing and forming a geometric shape around a bulb.

18. Wood Bead Chandelier

Image Courtesy of Tasha via Remodelaholic

From garden solarium spaces to romantic bedrooms, this DIY rustic wood bead chandelier will help you lighten up! They are gorgeous, aren’t they? But wait a moment, check out the price. Can you handle it? Well, the most inexpensive way to a wood bead chandelier is to make one. Yeah, it may take a while, but the fun is there!

19. Candle Lantern Chandelier

Image Courtesy of Mandi via Vintage Revivals

Would you believe that it’ll only take 3 simple steps to make a stylish chandelier out of a candle holder? Surprisingly, it’s true! Unique DIY light fixtures like this candle lantern chandelier will not cost you an arm and a leg. Can you just imagine how awesome the graphics and shapes that it’ll project on the walls at night are?

20. Dodecahedron Pendant Light Fixture

Image Courtesy of Kelly via View Along The Way

This is one of the magnificent DIY light fixtures to feature 3D shapes, particularly dodecahedron—a regular solid model consisting of 12 equal pentagonal faces. It is believed to be the universe’s global geometry, but in lighting design, it’s a true work of art. Assembled using 30 wood pieces, this pendant light fixture will fit any room in your place. This DIY project maybe a bit more involved but the end result isn’t only stunning but also worth all the time and effort.

21. Plumbing Pipe Light Fixture

Image Courtesy of Brynne Delerson via The Gathered Home

A home with a rustic industrial look never goes out of trend. And it doesn’t go easy on you when it comes to the cost. It’s a good thing that you’ve come across this collection of DIY light fixtures, particularly this remarkable plumbing light fixture that will cost you not more than a $100!

23. Paper Capiz Shell Chandelier

Image Courtesy of Brenna via Design Sponge

If you love to decorate with Capiz shells because you’re fond of their pearlescent finish and how semi-transparent they are, making and installing breathtaking DIY light fixtures with them is one of the best options to go for. To reduce the cost while not missing on their lavish design features, you can use wax paper to make your own Capiz shells for this faux Capiz Chandelier.

24. Bowl Wall Sconce

Image Courtesy of Mandi via Vintage Revivals

DIY light fixtures couldn’t be more crazy and fun when made with everyday objects. The use of a simple bowl as a wall sconce for an Edison light bulb gives you a vintage light fixture with a modern flair.

25. Book Lampshade

Image Courtesy of Marek Soliński via Instructables

Putting a book and a light bulb together is one hell of a crazy idea for DIY light fixtures! By the way, this isn’t about condoning you to destroy books, but if a book of questionable desirability/worth or a slightly damaged one is in your possession, a book lampshade might be the perfect DIY project to give your office, library, study, or kid’s room a beautiful lighting. The book pages diffuse and spread the light to create a stunning effect.

27. Globe Pendant Light

Image Courtesy of Leah Moss via Apartment Therapy

Nothing makes a countertop or study table better than a light shed by the world! Just a quick glance at the picture and you already know what’s it all about. This trendy idea for DIY light fixtures only requires some wiring, an old globe, and a pendant light kit to make it in a snap. Its simplicity is definitely what makes it a big statement piece.

28. Cloud Lights

Image Courtesy of Bláithin via A Style of Living

None could make a better compliment for these DIY light fixtures than the word Divine. With a few paper lanterns and some cotton batting, these pendants project a heavenly aura. Just make sure to use efficient and ultra-cool soft LED lights that radiate minimum heat. Assemble everything and enjoy floating with the clouds!

29. Bottle and Spoons Pendant

Image Courtesy of Leo via The Chive

The ideas for DIY light fixtures just got crazier and creative as some white plastic spoons and a PET bottle team up to make this fuzzy and warm installation. Just like the DIY cloud lights above, this DIY pendant light uses low-energy LED lights that aren’t going to get any hotter. Recycled LED lighting, bottles, and plastic—sounds like super eco-friendly to me!

30. Illuminated Constellation Wall Art

Image Courtesy of Brian Patrick Flynn via DIY Network

Is one of your hobbies includes amateur astronomy (you can simply call it stargazing)? Then, you’ll definitely love this DIY illuminated constellation canvas art idea for DIY light fixtures. Don’t worry, it’s not that intricate to replicate as it looks. You can choose any zodiac sign or constellation for this sparkling wall art. Pretty cool, don’t you think?! Add this to your home decor for a little twinkly and starry awesomeness.

Video Tutorial for DIY Light Fixtures — Forest Shadow Chandelier

How about we bring the great outdoors indoors? Still don’t get what I mean? Well, this DIY Shadow Chandelier Inspired by Nature will make you feel as if you’re sleeping outside, particularly in the forest. Try this ingenious idea for DIY light fixtures, have an awesome indoor campfire experience, and get dizzy and sleepy with its light shadowy effect beaming around.

It’s not our pocketbooks that limit us from decorating our homes with marvelous lighting fixtures, but our imagination does! It’s time to take our creativity and imagination to the next level and make our own DIY light fixtures. The styles and colors are endless! Take a cue from one of the ideas for DIY light fixtures above, and bask in the gleam of the light this night.